Richard Simmons: ‘No one is holding me in my house as a hostage’

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Richard Simmons is, apparently, not being held against his will and he wants you to know he is not in danger.

“No one is holding me in my house as a hostage,” Simmons told the “Today” show’s Savannah Guthrie during a phone interview which aired Monday morning. “You know I do what I want to do as I’ve always done, so people should sort of just believe what I have to say because, like, I’m Richard Simmons!”

The fitness guru has come forward amid speculation that he was in forced seclusion.

It all began with the recent publication of a New York Daily News story in which some of Simmons’ friends said they have not seen him in the past two years. Simmons’ former masseur and assistant, Mauro Oliveira, told the publication he feared the “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” mogul was being “controlled” by those closest to him.

“No one should be worried about me,” Simmons said on Facebook. “The people that surround me are wonderful people who take great care of me.”

The Internet loves a good mystery, and theories — and concerns for the beloved Simmons — have abounded. He had a message for anyone who had been concerned.

“For all the people that were worrying about me, I want to tell them that I love them with my whole heart and soul and that not to worry, Richard’s fine,” he said. “You haven’t seen the last of me. I’ll come back, and I’ll come back strong.”